Maintenance Lead

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we're committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive-whether you're just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we're proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani Italian cheeses and ricotta, President specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone's cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond cheddar, and Parmalat milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi's, Stonyfield Organic, Brown Cow, Oui, Yoplait, Go-Gurt, :ratio, Green Mountain Creamery, and Mountain High, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun, Gopi, and Arz.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values-Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone's unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don't meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Central Valley Cheese, Inc./Karoun Dairies, LLC part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Lead Maintenance Technician based in Turlock, CA. The lead maintenance technician is an advanced technician and a working lead who performs mechanical, preventative, corrective, and project tasks as outlined in the Level 4 Skills Matrix and as assigned. Will lead the maintenance team in effective decision-making regarding safety, production, and goals of the plant. Maintain, repair, and keep downtime to a minimum of all manufacturing equipment to ensure efficient and safe operations.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Lead by example fostering a safe and productive environment. Demonstrate advanced skill performance in the primary skills of the Level 4 Skills Matrix maintenance functions such as: Electricity, Electronics/PLC, Plumbing, Mechanical, Machine Shop, Millwright, Welding, Boilers, Refrigeration, and Pneumatics and Hydraulics.
• Ensures equipment is properly operating and maintained utilizing the P.M. Program.
• Possess adequate technical understanding of plant equipment and ability to train employees on proper equipment usage.
• Monitor line efficiencies to improve and eliminate repetitive breakdowns.
• Motivate team to act towards achieving common goals.
• Able to identify, evoke and use strengths of all resources in the organization.
• Effective communication with all personnel (production, maintenance, management, etc.).
• Be involved in trials (machines, products, processes, etc.).
• Suggest/recommend improvements.
• Participate in analyzing occupational hazards.
• Prevent potential risks.
• Enforce and comply with all company policies and procedures.

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Technical Competencies

• Knowledge and application of Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Ability to pay strong attention to detail and multitask effectively.
• Skills in and knowledge of mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
• Ability to weld stainless and make food grade repairs.
• Ability to read and understand blueprints.
• Good critical thinking skills, ability to follow and use root cause analysis.
• Basic math skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, procedures, and related documents (as needed).

Education & Experience

• AS Degree from a two-year college or technical school.
• 2+ years of maintenance experience in food manufacturing facility or equivalent.
• Prior leadership skills preferred.
• Computer software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

Skills / Abilities

• Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions.
• Ability to work well with others and possess strong personal qualities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic knowledge of operating systems, word processing and data spreadsheets.
• Strong ability to listen to personnel over maintenance concerns.
• Displays good math, technical and decision-making skills.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.